The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-27
THE WOOL INTEREST.

Figures from the Annual Report of the Chief
of the Bureau of Statistics.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-The printed report of
Col. W. f. Switzler. chief of the Bureau of Sta
tistics. on wool and manufactures Of wool, Is now
ready for distribution, and is considered by tho
bureau to be of the most valuable docu-
ments it has ever put forth. The report makes.
with its appendix. volume OF three hundred
pages. Its Introductory pages show the impor-
tance OF the sheep and wool industries of the
United States, disclose the characteristics OF
various kinds of wool. describe the method Of
improvement by domestic culture and give q
history of the developments of sheep-raising and
wool manufacturing in this country. Its statis-
tical portions cover very fully all matters relat-
ing TO imports. exports, duties collected, tariff
imposed by different acts of Congress. prices OF
wool in New York. Philadelphia and Boston,
during series of years. and other material
necessary to a determination of the effect of
congressional action upon prices. The report
shows that the number Of sheep in the United
States from l9, 000 600 in 1910 81 000. 900
in 1884, but declined to $4,000, 600 in 1851 This
marked decline occurred mainly In Southern and
Western States. notably in Texas. and is at
tributed in great part to tho decline in the
price of wool since 1884. Great Britain. being
the leading wool market of the world, has al
ways heen, the report says, the principal market
for our purchases of wool. Turkey and Russia
have also been Important sources of direct sup
ply, but the Argentine Republic is now, next to
Great Britain. our source of supply, followed by
Australia. CIR imports of wool rose from
/, 715 500 pounds in 1922 to ia OBS 060 pounds
in 1887 The increase in wool imports has about
keep pace with the growth of our wool products,
both having about doubled since 1860. A series
of tables illustrates the increase in products and
il i'm portations. and tho relations between the
two as for example From 1864 to 1868. 161,-
000 900 pounds were produced and 43. 000. 900 i'm
ported; from 1874 to 1873. 19S. 600 900 were pro-
ceH md inn ted. from to 1885
297. O00, GOO pounds were produced and " OOO-
600 imported. From 1922 to 1884, tho annual
IMPORTS Of wool in manufactures AVERAGED over
SO, 900. 900 in value. more than II cents peF
capita: while from 1882 to 1841, they reached
over $l4.0O0.000. or "a cents per capita The
was wa,os s2 900 600 in round numbsrs, and Of our
imports $19. 600. O0C. both together being about
81 95 per capita ot our population. In 1860.
600 imported, together being about g. 81 per
capita. In 1870. the product reached $11O.-
OOO 000 and the importations $35. .O00, 600. being
grown to $l64. .OO0. .O0O and the imports were
valued at $31, ,O00, 900. being So. 81 per capita.
Thus. while our product Of woolens has in
have increased about 62 per cent, but the CON-
sumption per capita has doubled. which. the
statistician says, indicates in striking man
the the 'As style Of living among among the people
Of this country. Tho statistics OF i'm
ports and exports OF woolens in the
trade or foreign countries snow tnab tuO Oultoo
Kingdom is foremost in the foreign trade In
woolens the imports during 1885 amounting in
value $40 600, 900, and the exports to 8ll5 000-
600. France comes next. with imports of $49-
O0O 600. and exports amounting to $78. 000, 900;
Germany next with imports OF $25. .00O. 900 and
exports of $51, 600 600. There has been . large
decline in the wooden trade of Great Britain
since 1874 as shown by the exports, which were
as follows: Exports during the five years from
1870 to 1874 $7S7, 900. 600; during the Eve years
from 1880 to 1884, 548 600 900, showing . decline
of $685. 0O0, 900. or 30 per cent. between the two
periods. This decline the royal commission on
tho depression of trade attributes IN part to tho
high foreign tariffs, which, it is claimed, shut
out the manufacturers of Great Britain from
foreign markets.